About Our Clinicians
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Arlene Sparks
Adult Choral Clinician Known throughout the country as an outstanding educator, conductor, and choral technician/artist, Arlene Graham Sparks is the Director of Music at First United Methodist Church of Boca Raton, FL, where she serves as the Director of the Chancel Choir and Traditional Music. Originally from Iowa, Arlene received degrees from Cottey College for Women (A.A.), The Florida State University (B.Mus. in Voice Performance and B.M.E. in Choral Music Education), and The University of South Florida (M.M. in Choral Conducting). She has done additional graduate course work at Westminster Choir College and has studied with such noted choral directors as Robert Shaw, Joseph Flummerfelt, Sir David Willcocks, and Weston Noble. In 2016 Arlene retired from public education after a decade as Choral Director at Coral Springs High School and finishing with a 26-year distinguished career as the Founding Director of the Vocal Department at the A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts. While at Dreyfoos, her choirs achieved top accolades such as invitations to perform at ten American Choral Directors’ Association Conventions – including two National Convention appearances – one in 2005 at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and most recently, in 2015 at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Her choirs also took four international tours – competing and placing first in competitions in Verona, Italy and Llangollen, Wales. She has conducted All-State and Honor Choirs across the country, and has twice been named Music Teacher or Educator of the Year. Arlene helped all of her students learn to sing in a vibrant healthy manner and obtain skills in music literacy; many went on to pursue music in our country’s finest music schools across the nation, including her son, Andrew Christopher – a Voice Performance/German Language double-degree graduate from Lawrence University in Wisconsin. In addition to her career as a choral educator and conductor, Arlene is a voice instructor and performer. She enjoyed several seasons as the vocal instructor/performance coach for the Von Trapp Children. Her soprano voice and choral leadership is admired throughout south Florida in the many churches she has served such as Royal Poinciana Chapel and Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach; The First Presbyterian Churches of North Palm Beach and Pompano Beach; St. Paul’s Episcopal and St. Gregory’s Episcopal; and Christ Methodist Church and the United Church of Christ in Ft. Lauderdale. Arlene also has completed the rigorous four year course work to receive the Education for Ministry (E.F.M.) certification through the University of the South. A lover of quality music and a talent for creative programming, Arlene has a passion for the art of traditional worship and its deeply rooted history. She has been propelled throughout her life by the scripture woven throughout our sacred anthems such as Psalm 104:33 “I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being”, and the wisdom and theology found throughout the pages of our treasured hymnals. She believes in praising God with the best we have to offer – with thought-filled texts and uplifting and inspiring music from our current great church music composers. |
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Daniel Jackson
Youth Choral Clinician Daniel Jackson is a dedicated music educator and conductor, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in choral music education at Temple University. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in music education from Florida State University. With over 21 years of experience, Daniel directed choral activities at Olympia High School in Orlando, FL, and Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, VA. His choirs have performed at the National NAACP Conference and various Choral Directors and Music Education Conferences in Florida and Virginia. Mr. Jackson has been an adjunct professor at University of the Arts and teaches basic conducting and Vocal Jazz Education at Temple University. Daniel also shares his expertise as a clinician, speaker, and adjudicator, leading workshops on culturally responsive choral practices across the country |
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Kathryn Jurado
Handbell Clinician A musician with over 30 years of performance experience, 20 years of non-profit volunteer work, and lifelong church music ministry service, Kathryn Jurado has quickly gained prominence in the handbell community as a ringer and director. Elected twice as Treasurer of Handbell Musicians of America, Area 4, Kathryn now serves as President-Elect on the national board of Handbell Musicians of America. She is one of the music directors and Vice President of Magic of Bronze, a community handbell ensemble based in Orlando, one of the featured performance choirs at the 2020 HMA National Seminar. Kathryn is also a Province Officer of Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity, directs the handbell ensemble at the University of South Florida, where she earned the Master of Music degree, is a freelance oboist and private teacher, and serves in the music ministry at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa. Recently, Kathryn was named to succeed Sondra Tucker as the Editor of Alfred Handbell, a division of Jubilate Music Group, and is excited to have started this new position in May of 2025. Previously, she served a term as Associate Director of the Suncoast Bronze Ringers community handbell ensemble, taught music in Hillsborough County Public Schools for over a decade, and was the handbell director at Lake Magdalene Church (formerly UMC) in Tampa. Kathryn had the privilege to be the clinician for Reaching for Bronze 2022 (now known as Crescendo) in New Bern, North Carolina. She was the handbell clinician for the Florida Chapter of the Fellowship of Worship Artists’ Worship Arts Week in Fruitland Park, Florida in 2024, and is excited to return for 2025! Kathryn was the inaugural director for HMA Area 4’s Bells of the Caribbean, held in November of 2024 in Puerto Rico, the director of HMA’s 2025 College Ring-In, and the 2025 Utah Spring Ring. She is looking forward to serving as faculty at HMA’s 2025 Pinnacle this summer in Wichita, Kansas, as well as several Spring Handbell Festivals in 2026. Originally born in Puerto Rico, she currently lives in central Florida with her husband, William J Murphy, her son Daniel, and their 4 cats, Zack, Loki, Bella, and Millie. |
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Rev. Bryant Manning
Youth Worship Pastor Bryant Manning is currently the Pastor and Executive Director at the Wesley Foundation at FSU & TCC in Tallahassee, FL. He holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Florida Southern College as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University and is a Provisional Elder in the United Methodist Church. Bryant is passionate about college students and young people seeking to further their relationship with Christ, as well as worship ministry, music ministry, and all techy things. He is married to his middle-school sweetheart, Allison, and together they have two beautiful red-headed daughters, Collins and Dylan. |
